Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,861)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $18,902/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Norwalk, CT
Pros
69% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Households earn $18,902 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Norwalk
Median Income
$18,902
$97,879 vs $78,977/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
69% lower
85.0 vs 272.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 34.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fort Collins wins 11 and Norwalk wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fort Collins to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $491,800 median home), income ($78,977 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Norwalk, CT are about 1,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.